A new study from the Psychology Department of Georgia Institute of Technology has shown the impact of music on altering perceptions of past events, while also enhancing the ability to absorb knowledge.
Music has long been an indispensable part of human life, providing numerous benefits for mental health and well-being. In reality, music is widely used, from athletes using it to boost their spirits, enhance focus, and endurance, to schools employing music to help children learn the alphabet or math. A study from Texas A&M University also indicates that background music in advertisements can stimulate the frontal lobe, which governs emotions and attention, thereby improving attitudes toward the brand and increasing purchase intentions.
The research at the Georgia Institute, led by Yiren Ren, a graduate student specializing in brain imaging methods such as fMRI and EEG, focuses on human memory, particularly sequential memory and short-term memory. In addition, with a passion for music and psychology, Ren wants to use this tool as a therapeutic remedy for mental health issues or depression.
In the first study, Ren and the research team tested on 44 students without psychological issues. These students were asked to recall sad memories while being played positive or negative music. The research team hopes to find evidence that the emotions evoked by music will have an impact on the listener’s past emotions. Accordingly, the results observed through fMRI show that regardless of how participants remember the event, music has a significant impact on their emotions when they think about those memories, and this effect persists even after the experiment concludes. When asked to recall those memories, their emotions changed along with the type of music they were listening to.
In the second experiment, the research team utilized Ren’s talent for composing music to create a version with a melodious tune and a clear rhythm. At the same time with those notes, she also created a piece of music with a chaotic structure. 48 participants in the experiment were asked to memorize images while listening to these music segments. The results show that those who listened to music with a clear structure remembered images much better than those who listened to chaotic music.
This research has clearly demonstrated the potential of music in helping individuals reprocess and overcome painful memories, while also serving as a useful tool for enhancing learning abilities. Ren plans to continue research after his doctorate to develop music as a therapeutic treatment for conditions such as depression, PTSD, and memory decline.
